Guatemala truly has it all! From colonial cities, to indigenous villages with vibrant markets and people dressed in traditional costumes, as well as Maya cities hidden deep in the jungle. The country boasts stunning lakes and many active volcanoes, making it a place you could explore for weeks. But if you only have 10 days in Guatemala, this guide will help you make the most of your Guatemala itinerary 10 days, highlighting the must-see spots, useful travel tips, and transportation details. Plus, I’ve included a special section for those starting or continuing their journey to Mexico.
I love traveling in Guatamela and was able to discover many corners of the country, including this route. I hope you enjoy reading my personal tips and recommendations to get the maximum out of your Guatemala itinerary 10 days.
Start your journey around Lake Atitlán. This mighty lake is surrounded by three volcanoes and many little villages. Every village has its own vibe and characteristics. And in some of the villages, people still live according to ancient Mayan traditions and customs. The light and view of the lake and surrounding volcanoes are breathtaking, from just every single angle. Make sure you spend at least one day navigating the lake and exploring villages such as Santiago de Atitlán, San Marcos, and San Juan la Laguna. You will learn more about indigenous art and meet local hero Maximón. A wooden statue, with a cigar, where people come and do their offerings, while making a wish. You can also hike from the village of Santa Cruz to Jaibalito, overlooking the lake during the entire trail. And explore the Cerro Tzankujil, a natural reserve near San Marcos.
The second day you should go on a hike, to enjoy the most amazing views of the Lake Atitlan. Climb your way up to the Indian Nose viewpoint (try to do a sunrise!) or hike to the top of the San Pedro Volcano.
As this is a guide for a 10 days in Guatemala itinerary, I’m focusing on some of the highlights. But you could easily spend a week around Lake Atitlán and sleep in a different village every day. Want to know more about Lake Atitlán and all the different things to do? Have a look in my Lake Atitlán travel guide.
Panajachel is the main city. It’s your starting point for all trips around the lake. You can choose to spend the night in this city, but it’s best to find a beautiful hotel around the lake or in one of the villages. Especially if you want to go on a longer hike, as you need to start early morning.
Do you want to visit Lake Atitlán from Antigua? You can book your tour here.
From Lake Atitlán, travel to the most famous city of Guatemala: Antigua. Make sure you schedule this journey on a Thursday or Sunday, so you can make a stop at the colorful market of Chichicastenango. Not only a shopping paradise but also a great way to observe local life. You can also visit Chichicastenango for the day from Antigua. You can book your tour here.
Antigua is the former capital of Guatemala and the most beautiful city in the country. It is a city where you can easily spend days and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. Stroll through the colonial streets, visit the ruins of former churches and convents and have a look in the many colonial buildings, where a new world opens behind every door. You will also find plenty of nice boutique stores, fancy restaurants and lunchrooms, with amazing views of the surrounding volcanoes. You often see smoke coming out of the volcano and at times you even see the orange and red lava flowing. Pretty incredible! Also, the surrounding area is worth exploring, with coffee plantations, viewpoints and organic farms.
Curious about what to do in Antigua? Check out my ultimate city guide for Antigua and surroundings with many things to do, cultural activities, restaurants, fancy boutique stores and hotels.
As Antigua is your starting point for one of the most exciting volcano trips such as the Pacaya and the Acatenango volcano. Make sure you include one of these hikes in your Guatemala itinerary for 10 days. Therefore, I would recommend to schedule at least three days in Antigua. One or two days to explore the center, and one or two days to go on a volcano hike, depending on your interest of hiking.
Want to know more about the Acatenango volcano hike, how to prepare and what to bring? Read everything you want to know about hiking the Acatenango volcano in the next article.
The Pacaya hike you can do in one morning or afternoon. The hike to the Acatenango volcano takes two days, as you want to spend the night in a tent, listening and looking at the active Fuego Volcano, right in front of you. Yes, these hikes are challenging but so worth it! Just make sure you are used to the altitude before going on this hike.
Do you want to hike the Acatenango volcano and secure your spot? Check out prices and availability here. You can book a tour to the top to the Pacaya volcano here.
Travel from Panajachel to Antigua, by uber or shuttle service. It will take around 3 hours. If you travel by private transportation, you are able to visit the market of Chichicastenango and include it in your two weeks in Guatemala itinerary.
After your time in the Guatemalan highlands, it is time for a different region. The jungle and tropical rainforest in Petén, the northern part of Guatemala. Spend the morning and afternoon in Antigua and try to book a plane from Guatemala City to Flores in the evening.
Flores is your starting point for the mysterious Maya ruins, such as Tikal and Yaxhá, located deep in the jungle. Without a doubt, a highlight during your one week in Guatemala itinerary. I recommend that you travel straight to Tikal this evening, and spend the night in one of the three hotels, located inside the national park. This way you are able to wake up very early the next day and see the sunrise from temple number 4. After your visit, travel to the town of Flores and spend the night there.
Tikal is arguably one of the most visited destinations in Guatemala. Because of its mysterious atmosphere, and location in the dense jungle, I think it is one of the most impressive archaeological Maya sites. You’ll be able to observe an ancient Maya city, with ruins of pyramids and palaces in a beautiful jungle environment, while being surrounded by countless monkeys, coatis, butterflies and birds. Tikal is best to be explored with a professional guide, making sure you get the maximum out of your trip.
Do you want to visit Tikal? You can book your tour here. Interested in reading more about a day tour to Tikal? Read the full article about Tikal Guatemala here.
If you feel like doing something more off the beaten track, skip Tikal and visit Yaxhá instead. Yaxhá is less visited than Tikal but also a beautiful archaeological Maya site, located at the Laguna Yaxhá, in the jungle. It is recommended to watch the sunset here from the 30 meterhigh temple (structure 216 or temple or the hands). In that case, you can spend the first night in Flores and the second night near the Yaxhá national park.
Do you want to visit Yaxha? You can book a nice sunset tour here. Interested in reading more about visiting Yaxhá? Read the full article about Yaxhá here.
Flores is a small town, located at the Petén Itzá lake, connected to the mainland by a bridge. There are so many colorful houses and doors, what makes it a picture heaven! Flores used to be an old maya city called Tayasal. It was one of the last independent cities during the Spanish conquest but was unfortunately destroyed completely afterwards. Nowadays you can discover the colonial town (built by the spanish on the former Maya city) and enjoy the boulevard with many rooftop restaurants and shops. The history makes your visit even more interesting.
It is best to take an uber or shuttle service from Antigua center to the airport of Guatemala City. Depending on the time of the day and traffic it will take you between 1 and 2 hours to get there. From here you can fly with Tag airlines to Flores within one hour.
Interested in taking a tour in Guatemala City? You can book a city tour here.
If you are planning to continue your journey to Chiapas in Mexico, after your 10 days in Guatemala itinerary. Then it is best to finish your trip in Flores and use the border Frontera Corozal. From Flores, it will take you 4 hours to reach the Guatemalan border town Bethel (it’s a bumpy road). Here you’ll cross the Usumacinta river by boat to Frontera Corozal in Mexico. Also your gateway to the archaeological site Yaxchilán. Read more about Yaxchilán and how to get there, in the next article.
Planning to travel to Yucatán in Mexico? Then it is also best to finish your journey in Flores and travel through Belize to Chetumal. It will take you a full day, as you need to cross two borders!
If you are traveling from Mexico to Guatemala, it is best to start your Guatemala 10 day itinerary in Flores. Take a plane to Guatemala City afterwards and continue your journey to Lake Atitlán and Antigua.
I hope this guide answered most of your questions about how to spend ten days in Guatemala. I did my best to highlights the best destinations, tours and activities to include. By doing all the above in this Guatemala 10 days itinerary, I am sure you’ll get the maximum out of your stay.
Did you enjoy this Guatemala 10 day itinerary? Have a look at the other Guatemala travel itineraries such as:
Looking for tours to include in your Guatemala itinerary 10 days? Have a look here.
Guatemala is a large country and distances are long. Moreover not all roads are accessible. For some distances during your 10 days in Guatemala itinerary, it is best to take a plane. But other routes can be easily traveled by bus or shuttle service. Guatego is a reliable and affordable shuttle service offering services throughout the country. You can book your shutle service here.
Looking for flights within Guatemala ? Use Skyscanner, when it comes to searching for cheap flights across Guatemala. An easy way to compare and book your flight ticket, as it searches websites and airlines around the world with one click.
Looking for a way to get around during your 10 days in Guatemala itinerary by bus or minivan? GuateGo is focusing on the transportation of travelers between important tourist destinations, providing customers different options to choose from. GuateGo is mainly working in Guatemala.
Need a rental car for your Guatemala itinerary 10 days roadtrip? Use Rental Cars to search and compare your car rental options. A quick and easy tool and no need to have up multiple tabs trying to figure out which company is the most affordable. They also have great discounts and cancellation policies. I only recommend this when you are familair with driving in Central America and only to get around Guatemala City, Antigua, Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan.
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Where to stay during your Guatemala itinerary 10 days? Like any other country, Guatemala has a large amount of beautiful hotels. For both work and personal trips, I visited Guatemala dozens of times. When I travel by myself, I always look out smaller scale hotels with beautiful interiors, a nice atmosphere and a convenient location. In addition, I like to support the locals and love a sustainable approach around a hotel. I always spend a lot of time researching, before I book my stay. In this article I will tell you more about my favorite places to stay in Guatemala: The best hotels, sorted by city and region in Guatemala.
Did you enjoy reading this Guatemala itinerary 10 days? Do you want to discover more? With Passport the World I am taking you on a journey to discover this beautiful country. Make sure to check out my other travel guides about Guatemala such as:
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As a travel reporter, producer and tour guide, I have been traveling around the world for the last 20 years, looking for the most scenic places and stories that are worth sharing. In Passport the World, I am guiding you along scenic and cultural places, cities, art, viewpoints, hiking trails and unique experiences. To help you get the most out of your travels or to just get to know a country and culture better!
